Calcutta High Court has granted bail to Republic TV journalist Santu Pan, arrested in Sandeshkhali while reporting. The court also stayed criminal proceedings against him, highlighting concerns about press freedom. Pan, who denies allegations, was initially remanded to police custody, sparking a legal battle now resolved with his release on bail.
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KOLKATA: On 22nd February, the Calcutta High Court has granted bail to Republic TV journalist Santu Pan, who was arrested while reporting live from the Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal. The arrest, which took place on February 19, had garnered widespread attention as it unfolded on live television, capturing the moment when Pan was removed from the Sandeshkhali area.
Justice Kausik Chanda, presiding over the case, not only granted bail to the journalist but also issued a stay on the criminal proceedings against him. The arrest had stemmed from a complaint filed by a woman resident in Sandeshkhali, accusing Pan of trespassing into her house and taking videos while she was not properly dressed. The case further alleged that Pan had outraged her modesty.
Pan vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that he was merely exposing the truth about the violence in Sandeshkhali. He was reportedly heard expressing his belief that the arrest was an attempt to silence him for bringing forth the harsh realities of the situation.
The arrest, which occurred on live television, raised concerns about press freedom and journalistic integrity. Pan, who works for Republic Bangla, was initially remanded to three days of police custody by a local court in North 24 Parganas district on February 20.
Seeking relief, Pan approached the Calcutta High Court, arguing that he was never informed of the grounds of his arrest, despite his requests. The journalist claimed that he was made to sign certain papers without being provided with proper information.
The plea filed by Pan stated-
“He later figured out that police, in order to cover its lacuna and save itself from the consequences of the colorable exercises of powers, had ensured that a false and frivolous first information report was registered against the petitioner.”
In response to the journalist’s petition, the High Court, after hearing submissions, granted bail and stayed the criminal proceedings against him. An order copy detailing the court’s decision is awaited.
The legal battle was fought by a formidable legal team representing Pan, including Senior Advocates Mahesh Jethmalani and Sandeepan Ganguly, along with advocates Saket Shukla, Ravi Sharma, Zoeb Cutlerywala, Siya Chaudhary, Apalak Basu, Smita, and Rahul Tyagi.
ALSO READ: Sandeshkhali Violence: Supreme Court Declines Comparison of Sandeshkhali Violence with Manipur
This incident is part of a larger backdrop of controversy in Sandeshkhali. The Calcutta High Court had recently taken Suo motu cognizance of reports that women in the village were subjected to sexual assault “at gunpoint” and that tribal lands were being forcibly taken away from villagers.
The court had specifically highlighted the involvement of Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leaders Sheikh Shajahan, Shiba Prasad Hazra, and Uttam Sardar in alleged land grabbing activities and the torture of villagers. The High Court had singled out Sheikh as the “sole cause” of the unrest, questioning the state’s delay in arresting him.
ALSO READ: Petition Filed at Calcutta High Court Demands CAPF Deployment in Sandeshkhali.
